Tag: ocean

I can’t believe it is July! Wow! Where has the year gone? We have spent much of our time in the car this year as you could tell. We have been asked by a lot of our family where are we going this weekend? The answer this past weekend was the beach…again.

When my wife and I were dating we spent a lot of time on the beach. We love it. We don’t go down to eat at fancy restaurants or to shop. We go down there and plan our butts in a chair and stick our feet in the sand and relax. That is a real beach trip. This past weekend was no exception.

We decided to head down to Holden Beach. Its our families beach and we love every minute there. It is nothing special but very special to us. We came down and dropped our stuff off at Nana’s and headed to the beach.

It was crowded, being July Fourth weekend but we managed to find a great parking spot and walk to the beach access. The beach was crowded but we did not mind. We set up camp and let the kids go wild. The water was rough. VERY rough. It was so rough that it knocked you down. We still had a great time.

After changing in the parking lot we headed back to Nana’s house.

We went to the Seafood Barn because I wanted fish.

You also can’t come to Holden Beach without getting some ice cream.

I love these little trips of ours and I hope that even though our Nana is selling her place that we can continue this tradition of being little beach bums.

This past weekend we headed down to Holden Beach for a little family vacation. Nothing fancy but us and the rest of BrittWhitFun’s family. We really had no choice cause of all the renovations going on we could not be at the house.

The first day we were there we had a great breakfast over at Nana’s house. We then headed to the dock and got on my FIL’s boat. There is just something great about being on a boat in the summer time. We rode around for a while and found a great spot on the inlet and set up camp.

We spent the entire morning and afternoon playing in the sand, swimming, fishing, and just relaxing. It was great. The beach is one of my favorite places and it is awesome that my in laws share the same joy.

After we got done we loaded up camp and came back to the dock. We went back to the motel we were staying and got showers. After we got cleaned off we headed back over to Nana’s house so the kids could have some alone time with their Pop and Nana while the adults went out to dinner.

We had a great dinner at Provision Company which included a couple of cocktails and seafood. It is always great to get away without the kids and enjoy some adult laughs and conversation. After dinner we went to a local ice cream shop where my SIL just can’t seem to eat an ice cream cone the right way. I mean who bites the end of a cone with ice cream still in there?

After some much needed rest we ready for day two. We went back to Nana’s house and ate breakfast again and then headed down to the beach.

We spent another long morning and afternoon on the beach swimming, digging holes, looking for seashells, and eating burgers from the local pier. Its was an awesome day. My kids got disgusting, especially Evie, and had to be rinsed off before heading home.

I must say I love my in laws and my little family. Our beach trips are always so much fun. I hope that even though our Nana is selling her place that we can continue these trips and enjoy each others company.

As. you could tell from last weeks posts it was mine and BrittWhitFun’s anniversary. We decided that instead of taking the usually trip to the beach to go somewhere we both have never been. So after some talking my wife decided to book us a weekend in Charleston, SC. I have always heard that Charleston was a beautiful town that was full of local artist, good food, and some great local beer. I have to say that after a long weekend I have never been more sick of food and beer but it the greatest way possible.

We arrived in Charleston Friday afternoon. We were both starving. We decided to stay in Mt. Pleasant cause it was cheaper and there were plenty of stuff to do here also. The first place on our list was some good lunch. After some suggestions from our friends we ended up at Shem’s Creek Bar and Grill. I of course had to try shrimp and grits for the first time and it did not disappoint. We sat near the water and watched people paddle board in the creek. I tried an IPA called Damn Yankee that was very good.

After lunch we headed to Isle of Palms beach. This beach was cool. There were plenty places to park(for a $1.50) and lots of shops. The beach as amazing. The sand was so soft. My wife and I took a long nap on the beach and just relaxed with one another.

Soon it was time for dinner. We headed to our hotel and checked in and then went to Melvin’s Ribs and Que. It was a lot of food and I could not even finish it but it was good what I ate. Then we went to a bar and had some drinks and desert. before calling it a night.

The next day we got dressed and headed to Charleston. We stopped first at Another Broken Egg Cafe. After waiting for a table for an hour and another hour for our food we indulged in a cinnamon roll that was out of this world followed by a Hello Lucy. The food was worth the wait! So good and I wanted to steal there little cute mugs but my wife told me we did not need another one.

After breakfast/lunch we explored the market place. I loved this place cause it was nothing but local artist and chiefs. We bought a few gifts for some loved ones and ourselves and I did manage to get a nice coffee cup. We even found a cool Charleston Christmas store and bought some ornaments for our tree this year.

We managed to find a cool wine bar and sat down and enjoyed a couple of glasses before heading out to see some sites.

The first place we went to was Washington Square Park. This place was so cool and it had plenty of shade. It was behind this beautiful church. After cooling off we headed to Waterfront Park which had an awesome view of the water, a pier, two splash pads, and a water taxi. It was just so neat to walk through.

By this time we were tired so we got to our car and went to Starbucks and grabbed some iced coffees. I fell asleep cause according to my wife I can fall asleep anywhere. True story.

I had made dinner reservations for us at an upscale restaurant called Magnolia’s. So we headed back into downtown and made our way there. We had some great martinis to start us off. We then were seated and indulged ourselves in some fried Mac and cheese and palmetto chesse, which now that I am typing this makes it sound bad for my stomach. My wife got a salad and I got buttermilk fried chicken that was out of this world. I wish I could have stopped myself long enough to take a picture of it. So good.

After dinner we went to the hotel and chilled out for a little and then headed back to Isle of Palms again. This time we just got some ice cream at Ben and Jerry’s and walked on the beach and looked for shells. It started to get dark and we headed back to our hotel for some rest.

I must say it was a great vacation with my wife. It is not every day we get to have some alone time. She did a great job about being away from the girls all weekend. Sunday she was ready to get home and I really can’t blame her. I was missing them also. It was a great anniversary with my love. I still can’t believe we made it to six years and I can’t help but feel we are only getting started.

I have been meaning to post this blog for sometime but in all honesty the time has gotten away from me. As you know, We went on a little vacation a couple of weeks ago and I have to say it was great to get away. Nothing like going out of town to get your groove back.

We went to our usual spot, Holden Beach, which is the most beautiful beach in North Carolina in my opinion. We made it there in under three hours thanks to my amazing wife and her mad driving skills. We love seeing our Nana and K-Dub had been asking about her for the past few weeks. We missed her and had a lot to catch up on with her.

On Saturday, I started my day with a 7.50 mile run on the main street of Holden Beach. It was beautiful to be running while watching the sun come up. It reminds you of how amazing this world can be. I wanted to get this run done as early as possible cause it was suppose to be really hot and by the time I finished It was really really HOT!

We spent the rest of the day on the beach where it really did feel like the sun was in your pocket. I found myself having to get in the water more frequently to cool off. K-Dub is scared of the ocean so the closest we could get her to the water was to the start of the shore line. She did love playing in the sand. She made what she called sandcastles but I thought they looked more like holes. We had a nice picnic on the beach and then ended our day with a trip to the amazing Sunset Slush.

Sunday we had another great day at the beach and then spent sometime in Calabash. We got some new ornaments for our tree to welcome Everly. Getting a new ornament is a tradition that we do every year.

You can’t seem to go to the beach without getting some seafood. So we got some dinner and then headed back to Nana’s house where we spent the evening watching TV and playing with K-Dub.

Monday we left after our tradition of eating at The Purple Onion Café, which is the best place to eat. Then we headed home. It was a great trip but like always, it was too short. Maybe next year we can plan a much longer vacation. Next year we will travel as a family of four! Wow! That is going to be exciting!

We are officially on vacation! That’s right readers, we are on the way to the beach for a quick vacation to enjoy this summer weather. Ready to get my toes in the sand and cold drink in my hand (water of course)!

Thanks to our house sitter for watching The Tan Man while we are gone. You guys have fun!

On day three of our crazy vacation we decided to take K-Dub to the local aquarium at Fort Fisher, NC. One of the things you have to realize is that in order to get there you have to take a ferry ride from Southport. No big deal right? We were so wrong.

As many of you might not know, all of those Nicholas Sparks movies are filmed in Southport. Actually they are fixing to start filming another one soon. It’s a nice town with beautiful views of the ocean and one of those places you just have to see to believe. I love it there.

We arrived at the ferry station at one and found the we just missed the ferry by a minute and that the next one was not going to be there for another hour. This was a challenge cause we had a toddler in the back that is not very good at waiting. My data plan on my phone would only let me watch but so many episodes of Sophia The First on YouTube. K-D was getting restless and pissed. When we finally got on the ferry it was another 30 minutes until we arrived at For Fisher. We ended up having to play in the car and make numerous funny faces and peek a boo gestures to make her happy. It was exhausting but that is parenting.

Once we got there we saw some alligators and snakes along with some box turtles. K-Dub really liked to turtles. We then went to the petting area where you got to pet a crab and a starfish. K-Dub hated this and had a tight grip on my shirt along with some of my chest hair. It was painful and Daddy got the message.

We then entered the area where they keep the sharks and stingrays and other huge fish. There were huge windows that you could watch as the swam in front if you. K-Dub loved it as the fish would swim right in. Front if her and she could point at them. She had a ball along with running around between BrittWhitFun and I and trying to jump.

We got to see and let a jellyfish. It was safe and it was a lot of fun. We got to see a 300 pound grouper which was crazy. They had a lot of other small fish that K-Dub liked. She had a ball and said “fish” for the first time. It was sweet.

When we left to get back on the ferry we found we had just missed it again and waited another 45 minutes for the next one. This time it was not so bad cause K-Dub fell asleep until we got on and then her and mom went and sat in the top deck of the ferry while I passed out myself.

It’s sad that our beach trip has come to an end and now we are on the way home as I am writing this. We still have a lot of fun things planned this week. You seen anything year folks. Until next time!

Our family vacation was awesome. We had such a great time. Oak Island is really a very nice place.

When we first got there it was really late and we got settled in a went to sleep only to wake the next morning to the ocean in our ears. One of the great things about staying at a beach house is the fact that you wake up to the gorgeous view of the sea. We came down and ate breakfast with my mom and stepdad and then headed down to the beach to have fun in the sun.

When we got down to the beach it was like something out of a horror movie. It is of course our luck that we go down to the beach during sandfly mating season. Here is a quick fact about these flies. They get on your skin and bite you to suck your blood so they can make their eggs. Let me tell you that these little things hurt. I had to come back inside and break out my iPad and google how to stop them. I found an article that said that if you you spray vinegar on your legs it will repel them. After buying vinegar and spraying it all over my body I was able to enjoy myself on the beach.

Shortly after we solved that scare, my brother and his family came down along with my Gi Gi. We played a crazy game of UNO and Trouble. My family is super competitive and it got pretty fierce. My wife call my mom a bitch but it was all in good fun.

As the days went on we spent most of the time on the beach playing with my cute niece.I gave me great practice for when my little Karsyn gets here. It made my family realize how much of a great dad I am going to be.

The week came and went really fast and before I knew it it was time to head home. I was sad to leave but thankful for the experience. My family really enjoyed their first vacation in over 10 years and have already started to plan the next one.